Cylinder lock

ABSTRACT

A cylinder lock for an insertable profile key having a cylinder core with tumbler assemblies each composed of displaceable plate members mounted back to back for slidable movement in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder core, each tumbler assembly being inserted into a respective slot in the cylinder core, the plate members being urged into recesses in an external cylinder housing by helical compression springs. Each plate tumbler is provided with a central portion which is Ushaped in cross-section, and outwardly protruding flanges are attached to the arms of the U-shaped portion, the outer surfaces of each flange of each tumbler assembly slidably abutting against the walls of the slot in the cylinder core. The outer surfaces of the central bridges of the U-shaped portions of the tumbler plates of each assembly slidably abut against each other and at least one helical compression spring for each tumbler assembly is arranged in a channel defined by opposed flanges of the tumbler plates of each assembly, the spring engaging a tongue bent from each flange.

llited tates atet eller-Volper CYLINDER LOCK [76] Inventor: Ernst Keller-Volper, 6 Querstrasse,

8805 Richterswil, Switzerland [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 207,834

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,047,966 7/1936 Jacobi ..70/4l7 X 3,578,371 5/1971 Keller ...70/364 R 2,123,940 7/1938 Gray ..70/377 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3/1947 Italy ..7()/377 1/1935 GreatBritain ..70/377 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney Eric H. Waters, John G. Schwartz and Harold Nissen [451 May 29,1973

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A cylinder lock for an insertable profile key having a cylinder core with tumbler assemblies each composed of displaceable plate members mounted back to back for slidable movement in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder core, each tumbler assembly being inserted into a respective slot in the cylinder core, the plate members being urged into recesses in an external cylinder housing by helical compression springs. Each plate tumbler is provided with a central portion which is U-shaped in cross-section, and outwardly protruding flanges are attached to the arms of the U-shaped portion, the outer surfaces of each flange of each tumbler assembly slidably abutting against the walls of the slot in the cylinder core. The outer surfaces of the central bridges of the U-shaped portions of the tumbler plates of each assembly slidably abut against each other and at least one helical compression spring for each tumbler assembly is arranged in a channel defined by opposed flanges of the tumbler plates of each assembly, the spring engaging a tongue bent from each flange.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a cylinder lock for an insertable profile key, said lock having a clyinder core with plate-shaped tumblers which are displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder core, said tumbler being inserted into slots in the cylinder core and being pressed into recesses pro vided in the external cylinder by helical compression springs, at least two tumblers being accommodated in each slot of the cylinder core.

2. Description of the Prior Art In conventional cylinder locks of this kind, the turnblers are made asflat plates, and the helical compression springs are wire coil springs which are arranged laterally of the tumbler plates in the cylinder core, one end of each spring resting against a stop in the cylinder core and the other end engaging a projection of the tumbler plate. In order to increase the reliability of the lock, it is also known to arrange two or more tumbler plates in each slot of the cylinder core. In conventional cylinder locks of this kind, the helical compression springs are usually mounted in recesses which are provided laterally of the tumbler slots. As a result, the machining operations of the cylinder core are complicated and the assembling operations are very timeconsuming.

Therefore, it has already been proposed to manufacture the cylinder core of two parts which are mutually separated along a plane perpendicular to the key channel in order to facilitate the milling of the recesses for the helical compression springs. Furthermore, it is already known to mount longitudinal rods in the cylinder core serving as fixed stops for the helical compression springs. The machining operations are facilitated by these arrangements, but the assembling operations of the'tumbler plates and the helical compression springs remain complicated and time-consuming, as they must be accomplished manually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cylinder lock whose cylinder core requires very simple ,machining operations and in which the assembling operations of the tumblers with their springs are simplitied to such an extent that they can be automated. Such cylinder lock must nevertheless provide the necessary high standards of reliability.

The invention is characterized in that each tumbler is constituted as an assembly of two or more plate members each with a central portion which has a U- shaped cross-section, and an outwardly protruding flange attached to each arm of the U-shaped portion, the outer surfaces of the flanges of each pair abutting against the walls of the slot in the cylinder core and the outer surfaces of the central bridges of the Ushaped portions of the tumbler assembly accommodated in the respective slot abutting against each other; furthermore, at least one helical compression spring is provided for each part of tumbler members accommodated in a channel defined by both flanges of the pair of tumbler members in each respective slot, the spring engaging a tongue of each flange.

The advantages of this embodiment are that only slots have to be machined in the cylinder core and that the pairs of tumbler plates in each slot guide each other. Moreover, the pairs of tumbler plates can be readily assembled and can be automatically inserted in the corresponding slots from one side by means of a feed magazine.

Further advantages and details will be explained in the description of one embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIE DRAWINGS FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-section of a cylinder lock with the tumblers in their locking position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cylinder core with inserted tumblers;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of two interrelated tumblers; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two tumblers according to FIG. 4 with springs in assembled position.

DETAILED DESCRETION The cylinder lock is provieed, in known manner, with an external cylinder or housing 1 and an internal cylindrical barrel or core 2 which is rotatably accommodated therein (FIGS. 1 and 2). The cylinder core is provided with a key channel 3, and a plurality of slots 4 of rectangular cross-section and extending perpendicularly to the key channel. (FIG. 3). In each of the slots 4, there is mounted a tumbler assembly comprising two tumbler plates 5, 6, which are shown separately in FIG. 4. Both tumbler plates 5, 6 are associated with corresponding springs 7, h and the assembly is shown in FIG. 5 in a position in which it is inserted in a respective of the slots 4.

Each of the tumbler plates 5 or 6 is provided with a central portion which is U-shaped in cross-section and consists of a bridge 10 and two arms 11. Two outwardly directed flanges 12 are attached to arms 11 and extend parallel to the bridge. A tongue 13 is punched and bent from the flange 12 of plate 5 and a tongue 14 is punched and bent from the plate 6 such that the tongues project perpendicularly to the flanges 12. The tumbler plates 5, 6 in each assembly are inserted in the slots 3 with the webs of the central portions in slidable back-to-back engagement. The flanges 12 of adjacent plate members define a channel in which the tongues I3, 14 protrude, each channel accommodating a respective wire coil spring 7 or 8 which is pretensioned in the working position and whose ends engages both tongues 13, M. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tumble plates 5, 6 of each assembly are pressed by the springs '7, 8 into recesses 15 provided in the inner wall of the external cylinder ll. Therefore, the cylinder core cannot be rotated in the external cylinder and the lock is locked.

All tumbler plates 5, 6 are provided with a slit 16 for the insertable profile key in the bridges l0 and a lateral recess 17 with guiding edges 17a extending from the slit. The illustrated tumbler plates are, consequently, adapted for operation with an insertable profile key which is provided with guiding surfaces arranged on both sides of a central rib and laterally protruding therefrom, the guiding surfaces being provided so as to engage the guiding edges 17a of the tumbler plates. However, the lock could also be used for conventional insertable profile keys with curved guiding surfaces or teeth arranged on one or both of the narrow sides of the key; if such is the case, corresponding rectangular slits are provided in the bridges 10 of the tumbler plates.

As a result of the construction by which the tumbler plates 5, 6 of each assembly are accommodated in a respective slot 4 and abut against the walls of the slot at the wide outer surfaces of the flanges 12, by which the plates guide one another by means of mutually abutting surfaces of the bridges 10, a high degree of movability is achieved which makes possible easy insertion of the key even if great difierences exist between the single guiding surfaces. Moreover, local wear is minimized as a result of the large guiding surfaces.

Since the springs 7, 8 rest only against both tumbler plates, the reliability of the lock is increased as far as unauthorized opening of the lock by sensing the tumblers is concerned, as one of the tumblers is increasingly pressed into the recess 15 while the other tumbler of the pair is retracted from the opposite recess. Moreover, the groove-shaped recesses 15 in the external cylinder, which define the tumbler channel, can be manufactured so as to be slightly conical in the longitudinal direction, which also enhances the reliability against unauthorized opening.

Of course, two pairs of tumbler plates can be accommodated in each of the slots 4, whereby the outer surfaces of the flanges 12 of the inner plates abut against each other.

From the above, it is seen that the invention contemplates a tumbler assembly for insertion in a slot of a key-operated cylinder lock said assembly comprising at least two plate members 5, 6 slidably mounted back-toback for individual movement between a normal extended locking position as seen in FIG. 2 and a retracted unlocked position as shown in FIG. the plate members cooperatively define channels and spring means 7, 8 are accommodated in said channels and engage the plate members to urge the same to their normal extended locking position, said plate member being provided with slots 16 for insertion of a key to displace the plate members against the opposition of members cooperatively defining a channel, and spring means accommodated in said channel and engaging each of the plate members to urge the same to their normal extended locking position, said plate members being provided with slots for insertion of a key to displace the plate members against the opposition of the spring means to their retracted unlocked position, said plate members including respective central portions of U-shaped cross-section, said central portions facing in oposite directions and including webs along which said plate members are slidably mounted, said plate members further including lateral flanges extending outwardly from said central portions, the flanges of adjacent plate members being in spaced opposition and defining said channel.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising tongues extending from said flanges into said channel, said spring means engaging said tongues.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lateral flanges extend outwardly from each arm of the U- shaped cross-section of each plate members in opposite directions.

4 An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lateral flanges of adjacent plate members define two channels each accommodating a respective spring means.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tongues are bent from said flanges and extend toward the flanges of the adjacent plate member.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spring means comprises a coil spring having opposite ends respectively engaged with tongues of adjacent plate members in the associated channel.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cylinder lock has a cylindrical core rotatable in an external housing, said housing having recesses, said assembly being mounted in a slot provided in said core and extending into said recesses in the extended locking position.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the core has a plurality of slots, each with a tumbler assembly therein, said recesses in the housing extending longitudinally thereof.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lateral flanges have outer ends which are in slidable abutment with the core at the slot. 

1. A tumbler assembly for insertion in a slot of a key-operated cylinder lock, said assembly comprising two plate members slidably mounted back to back for individual movement between a normal extended locking position and a retracted unlocked position, said plate members cooperatively defining a channel, and spring means accommodated in said channel and engaging each of the plate members to urge the same to their normal extended locking position, said plate members being provided with slots for insertion of a key to displace the plate members against the opposition of the spring means to their retracted unlocked position, said plate members including respective central portions of U-shaped cross-section, said central portions facing in opposite directions and including webs along which said plate members are slidably mounted, said plate members further including lateral flanges extending outwardly from said central portions, the flanges of adjacent plate members being in spaced opposition and defining said channel.
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising tongues extending from said flanges into said channel, said spring means engaging said tongues.
 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lateral flanges extend outwardly from each arm of the U-shaped cross-section of each plate members in opposite directions. 4 . An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lateral flanges of adjacent plate members define two channels each accommodating a respective spring means.
 5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tongues are bent from said flanges and extend toward the flanges of the adjacent plate member.
 6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 whereIn said spring means comprises a coil spring having opposite ends respectively engaged with tongues of adjacent plate members in the associated channel.
 7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cylinder lock has a cylindrical core rotatable in an external housing, said housing having recesses, said assembly being mounted in a slot provided in said core and extending into said recesses in the extended locking position.
 8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the core has a plurality of slots, each with a tumbler assembly therein, said recesses in the housing extending longitudinally thereof.
 9. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lateral flanges have outer ends which are in slidable abutment with the core at the slot. 